Grass trimmer



R. T. GLEISEN GRASS TRIMMER May 9, 1950 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1948 INVENTOR.

Richard I G/e/sen y 1950 R. T. GLEISEN 7 2,506,638

GRASS TRIMMER Filed March 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GZ IINVENTOR. Ric/20rd 7. G/e/sen BYZ Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved grass trimmer and mower and, more particularly, to a device for trimming the edges of grass plots and lawns bordering on hard-surfaced walks, drive ways and the like.

Due to the discontinuity of surface and the differential elevation occurring at the borders of grass plots and lawns where they abut hard-surfaced walks or driveways, it is frequently difficult or completely impossible properly to trim the bordering edges of such grass plots and lawns with lawn mowers of the conventional two-wheeled type having rotary or oscillating cutters.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an edge-trimming device for grass plots and lawns constructed and arranged in such a manner as to be readily applied along the margnial edges thereof for trimming purposes. This object is achieved by providing a device comprising a frame carrying a single driving wheel rotatable in a vertical plane, the wheel having a peripheral lateral flange formed with a continuous series of cam elements for actuating a pair of shear-blades pivoted to lower extensions of the frame for cutting action in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the driving wheel. Thus the device may be easily manipulated for its intended purpose since the single driving wheel may be easily located the proper distance inwardly of the marginal edge of the lawn being trimmed, the device being free of engagement with the adjoining hard surface and being completely supported on the lawn surface. Under certain conditions, however, it might be desirable to position the driving wheel on the hard-surfaced walk or driveway bordering the lawn at a suitable distance outwardly of the marginal edge thereof to effect proper trimming of the lawn edge by the shear-blades as the device is pushed along the hard surface. The particular method of using the device, i. e. with the driving Wheel supported adjacent the marginal edge of the lawn either upon the lawn surface or upon the adjoining hard surface, will depend upon the spe cial conditions encountered in a given case.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an edge-trimming device of the character indicated comprising a minimum number of component elements which may be easily and inexpensively fabricated and. readily assembled to a simple, compact and durable unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an edge-trimming device wherein the cutting elements or shear-blades may be easily detached and reassembled for sharpening or grinding whenever required by the conditions of use.

The foregoing objects as well as additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily understood in.,the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of the device in assembled condition, one of the lower frame elements being partly broken away to show the cooperation between the peripheral cam elements of the driving wheel and the shear-blades.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in section with the frame omitted for the sake of clarity and illustrates the shear-blades in their open, inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating a successive stage in the operation of the device with the shear-blades in closed operative position.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the frame of the device comprises a horizontal bearing portion 10, an upwardly inclined handle element II and a pair of depending mounting elements I 2 and I3 to which the shearblades 20 may be pivoted, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The single driving wheel l4 may be provided with a tire l5 and the hub l6 of said wheel is mounted on an axle l1 journaled in bearing portion l0.

Wheel [4 is provided adjacent the periphery ments I9. Shear-blades 20 are pivotally secured to depending frame elements l2 and i3 respectlvely -(see Fig. 1) and are preferably detachably associated therewith as by means of a screw 2| and washer 22. As will be seen by referring to Fig. l, the shear-blades are together displaced laterally from the wheel l4. One of the shearblades 20 is formed with a posterior lateral ex--.

tension 20a directed inwardly toward the lateral flange 18 of the wheel 14. The shear-blades 20 are further provided with overlapping ears 23 adjacent their cutting edges 24, said ears being pivctally interconnected as shown at 25.

In order to permit relative motion of the shear-blades 20 about pivot 25 and the alternate approach and separation of the cutting edges 24, one of the ears 23 is provided with an elongatedslot 26 somewhat greater in width than pivot pin 25. Further, the shear-blades 20 are normally urged apart into the separated, inoperative posi tion of Figs. 1 and 2 through the agency of V the: device.

lateral projection, a follower mounted on said arm and engageable against said cam elements, a stop on said lateral projection against which said arm normally abuts, and spring means releasably retaining said 'arm against said stop, whereby to effect cutting action of said shearblades upon forward rotation of said driving Wheel and to permit reverse rotation of said d vins..w l.=....

edge tr-immingg device 1 acgordance with claim 1, having resilient spreader means ,fi ied between said shear-blades and normally and carryin a follower element 3| successively engageable against the camelements I9 oi y/h g1; flange !8 as wheel I4 is caused to rotate. The arm 29 normally abuts a stop 32 on -the-shean blade 20. means of the handle I l and pushed forwardly to rotate wheel [4 in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 1, the follower element 3| will successively contact: the lowaand hieh poin of; the-cam else ments is, thereby: causin th6 B31 :"-1 l3 QS; iQ' alternately to .openqandzclose andefieetmu ing of the grass received ;between cutting ed gesld; as i11ustrated;in Figs.-. 2 and;?.;

The. .arm- 29 is releasablyheld against. the stop 32 by: the action; of av -return sprin 335m; order to- ,allo.w retraction of the device .zandreverse -moe tion of the wheel M (in a direction opposite. to the arrowsin Eig; 1-)vwithontmausingdamage-to Thus; as :the device is: retracted after a cutting stroke, the follower elementrtl carried; by the: arm, *Zflwwill; merely-Sl p gainstthe cam elements t9 without imparting'outting: motion tothe shear-blades-Zit: 'Ihus,thelateral extension 2.0a. and the arm 2.9cw-hichcarries-the follower element 3:!0 constitutes -a. formoff-cone, nection between one of the shearebl'ades. Zllvand thev follower:

Since. certain;modifications; may be made in the edgeetrimmingdey-ice of'the present. inven-. tion without vd'epartingfrom the scope thereof, it

. isgintendedthatall matter contained in the fore-.

going descriptionand shown-inthe accompany-. in drawings be interpretedmerely as illustrative andnotin a'limiting. sense.

What is: claimed is :v I

1'. Ali-edge; trimmer for trimmingthe edges of: grass plots, lawns and the like, said trimmer come Thus, when the deyioeis held; by-

prising a handle; a frame car-riedrby. said handle 54';

at one end thereof; a driving iwheelimounted on fildframe at onersideiof said handle; a continu ous series ofcam elements on said wheel extending late-rally therefrom in. the: direction of said handle; a pair-or.- shean-blades, each pivotally secured to said frame and together displaced laterally'from said-wheel; a follower for making constant" contact with said series" of camelemerits; and a connection between saidfollower andsaid shear-blades; whereby rotation of said wheel'andmaid-cam elements thereon displaces said follower laterally anclwith it said connection; actuate saidshear-blades.

2. An edge-trimming deviceof the character described comprising a frame portion, asingle driving wheel mounted on saidframe portion, said wheel being provided with a continuous series. oflaterally extendingcam elements, a. pair of "shear-blades eachpivotallysecured independently to said frame portion, one of said shear-blades having a lateral projection extending inwardly toward said cam elements; operating means inter-connecting said: camelements with said"lateralprojeotion, said "013,. crating-meansincluding an arm pivoted to said urging said shear-blades apart.

' 4.; An edge-trimming device in accordance with claim z, having resilient spreader means fixed between said" shear-blades and normally urging widened-bla esap 5. An edge-trimming device of the character described-comprising a frame portion including a substantially horizontal bearing portion, a handle elementand 1a.v paireof depending frame elements, av single driving;wheelrrotatablyesupportedi in. said; bearing portion, said-: wheel being..,p1'ovided; with a..continuous series. of laterally extending, cam elements, a pair of shear-blades jieach; pivotallysecured independently at. thefree ends; ofsaid depending frame element's, one ofwsaid' shear-r blades having. a laterals-projection. extending. toe ward said cam elements, operating-means inter-i,

connecting said carnelements. with saidrlaterali projection, said operating means. including. an

arm pivoted .to said: lateral projection, a follower at one side of said frame, in combination with a continuous series of cams on saidwheel extends. ing toward said frame, a pairv of coacting sheare blades pivotally secured to said frame and displaced thereon. towardits side opposite to that; upon which said wheeliis journaled,'a follower inv contact with said cams, anda connection between one of said shear-blades and saidfollower, where:

by rotation of said wheel will effect cuttingaction.

by said shear-blades.

8. An edgeitriminerfor, trimming the'edges of; grass plots, lawns and the like, said trimmer com,- prising a frame; saidframe including ahandle,

apa-ir of. depending. frame-elements,- and a. sub;

stantially horizontal bearing element; and a single driving wheeljournaled, upon said bearingelement and positioned;beyondzoneiside of said frame; in combinationwith. a. continuous series of: laterally extendingcams onsaid wheel; a. pair of coacting shear-:blades, each blade being piv-x otally secured at the freeend of one of said de:.,

pending frame elements; asp-ring connected to. said sheen-blades for-opening theiblades; a.fol-. lower in contact. with said'cams; and a connec-.- tion between one of said shear-blades and said follower; whereby rotationof: said wheel will in: termittentlyclose said blades against the re.-.

siliency of said spring and effect cutting action by said shear-blades.

9. An edge trimmer for trimming the edges of grass plots, lawns and the like, said trimmer comprising a frame; said frame including a handle, a pair of depending frame elements, and a substantially horizontal bearing element; and a single driving wheel journaled upon said bearing element and positioned beyond one side of said frame; in combination with a continuous series of laterally extending cams on said wheel; a pair of coacting shear-blades, each blade being pivotally secured at the free end of one of said depending frame elements; a spring connected to said shear-blades for opening the blades; a follower in contact with said cams; and a con- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,057,015 'Stover Mar. 25, 1913 Clark May 24, 1932 

